Manitoba Aerospace Week

MANITOBA AEROSPACE WEEK May 27 - June 4, 2016 23 Strong Past, Bright Future ENABLING AEROSPACE INNOVATION IN MANITOBA H istorically, aerospace in Canada has "punched above its weight" in terms of market share vs our population. This is especially true in Manitoba, where our high-technology products and services compete directly in a competitive global market. A detailed study of the competitiveness of the Canadian aerospace industry (the Emerson report) highlighted the benefits of collaborative research and development (R&D), since aerospace is much more R&D-intensive than most other industries. From the Emerson study recommendations, the Consortium of Aerospace Research and Innovation in Canada (CARIC) was created to provide a national network for R&D collaboration and support, including funding. Locally, Manitoba Aerospace has championed an Aerospace Technology Roadmap and worked to increase the amount of aerospace R&D in Manitoba. The collaboration of these two organizations has injected new funding for R&D projects and is just getting started. Manitoba Aerospace hosts the central region CARIC office and in its first year of operation CARIC has already supported two major research projects, and a number of sponsorships and awards at the University of Manitoba. The first CARIC project to be approved from Western Canada is a $2.5-million collaborative project coordinated through the Canadian Composite Manufacturing R&D Consortium (CCMRD), a consortium of aerospace companies and research organizations across Canada. Six industrial partners, including Magellan Aerospace and Boeing Canada Winnipeg; two research organizations, including the Composites Innovation Centre (CIC); and two academic partners, including Red River College (RRC), will collaborate to develop innovative solutions in design, technology development and manufacturing processes to produce challenging aircraft structures from composite materials for future applications. In January, the StandardAero-led research project "Evaluation of Advanced Fusion Welding Technologies in the Structural Repair of Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys" was approved. This $1.4-million project will evaluate and demonstrate the application of new high-performance welding technologies to the difficult applications of structural weld repair to light alloys in aerostructures and components. Collaborating partners include the University of Manitoba, RRC and Huys Industries. In May, the CARIC regional office held the inaugural CARIC Research Forum for Manitoba and Saskatchewan at the University of Manitoba. Industry, academia and research organizations converged to get an update on the Technology Roadmap, discuss industry's R&D priorities, and consider new research projects. With the federal government's continued focus on innovation and the National Research Council's new Factory of the Future facility soon to be built in Winnipeg, aerospace innovation in Manitoba has never been stronger. ❚ Engineers in a clean room inspecting a satellite flight panel.

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